Aston Villa get technical with new recruit
Villa are closing in on a technical director, with club bosses confident of making an appointment within the next fortnight.
New owner Tony Xia is eager to improve the club's record in the transfer market.
Villa spent more than £55 million last summer ahead of a disastrous campaign which resulted in relegation from the Premier League.
Boss Roberto Di Matteo has been involved in the recruitment process, with the Italian accepting the need for the club to have an established structure.
Villa have so far signed three players in preparation for the campaign in the Championship but attention has now turned to outgoings as Di Matteo looks to cut a heavily-bloated squad. Midfielder Carles Gil yesterday completed a season-long loan move to Deportivo, while goalkeeper Brad Guzan has been heavily linked with Middlesbrough.
Micah Richards, last season's captain, could meanwhile leave for Sunderland, though the deal is now up in the air following Sam Allardyce's departure from the Black Cats.
Richards and Ciaran Clark, who is attracting interest from Albion, both have £5 million release clauses in their contracts.
Celtic meanwhile continue to be linked with winger Scott Sinclair but three bids have fallen some way short of Villa's valuation.
Di Matteo is eager to add two strikers and an attacking midfielder but the manager is prepared to bide his time to ensure he lands his top targets in what, to this point, has been a relatively slow market.
